Lichfield made the long trip to Ludlow with a much changed team and in the knowledge that this would be a very tough game with the home side needing at least one win to secure their position in the league.
Josh Machin, Chris Upton and Callum Aspley came in for the injured Dan Taylor, Derrick Squire and Matt Smith with Jon Doubleday replacing the unavailable Callum Turner. Lichfield also welcomed back Ben Sowden to the bench and he was joined by two experienced players in Simon Haber and Matt Brown.
Ludlow were quick out of the blocks and scored first through their hooker after some weak Lichfield defence, this was converted to give them a 7-0 lead inside five minutes.
The visitors responded well and after some good pressure came away with a Josh Massey penalty on 12 minutes.
Ludlow again capatilised on some poor defensive work to answer back with a converted try from their full back taking the score to 14-3 with 15 minutes gone.
Lichfield then started to put together some good phase play with Thompson, Upton, Adams and Greg Massey all making breaks. A fine Tom Adams burst through the centre of the home defence allowed Charlie Milner to score having supported well. This score was improved by Josh Massey and then brother Greg sliced open the Ludlow defence to score a great individual try which was once again converted by Josh, to give the visitors a 17-14 half time lead.
The Myrtle Greens were looking to come out strong in the second half, keep hold of possession for longer periods of time and tire out the Ludlow side, however, it was once again the hosts who took the game by the scruff of the neck and again a Lichfield mistake led to their full back scoring his second try of the game, which was again improved by the home 10.
The Ludlow fly half then added a penalty to take the score to 24-17 with the game entering the final quarter.
Lichfield were forced into a change with the injured Steve Gabbitass being replaced by Ben Sowden and skipper Dave Bassett moving across to hooker. Simon Haber also came on to replace the tireless Jon Doubleday.
The visitors then picked up the pace and were unlucky not to score tries through George Cotterhill following a Greg Massey break and Charlie Milner following a strong Tom Adams run. However, on 61 minutes Tom Adams finally found his way over after a sustained period of pressure and ball retention. This score was well converted from the touchline by Josh to take the game to 24-24.
Further Lichfield pressure in the Ludlow half led to them giving away a penalty which Josh calmly slotted to take his side ahead with five minutes left on the clock. Unfortunately, mistakes and a never say die attitude from the hosts got them into the visiting 22 and following several phases on the line, the impressive home blindside flanker forced his way over, again converted by the home 10 to put Ludlow in front at 31-27 with two minutes left.
Lichfield will be disappointed with their execution in the final third as they certainly created enough chances to win the game, however, nothing can be taken away from the home side that deserved their win.
The Myrtle Greens will be looking to get back to winning ways when they welcome Worcester Wanderers to Cooke Fields on April 14 for a 3pm kick off.
Lichfield: Machin, Gabbitass, Bassett (c), Thompson, Upton, Doubleday, Milner, Burton; Aspley, L Massey, G Cotterhill, J Massey, Adams, Maxwell-Keys, G Massey. Subs: Sowden, Haber and Brown.
